Valve for Cappuccino Maker

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns a valve for a home cappuccino maker of the type comprising a boiler and a collector having a column. The valve comprises a valve body, coupling means suitable for fixing the valve to coupling means of the column, and a shutter mobile between a closed position and an open position of a duct. The valve also comprises a basket suitable for cooperating with the coupling means of the column and with the shutter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is an improved valve for use onapparatuses for the preparation of hot drinks, in particular for thepreparation of cappuccinos or similar.

Here and hereafter, by the term “cappuccino maker” we mean any apparatusfor the preparation at home of hot drinks, in particular for thepreparation of coffee, cappuccinos, white coffee or other brews obtainedfrom coffee or barley powder or similar.

In cappuccino makers valve systems are used that allow pressurisedcoffee brew to be dispensed through a predetermined amount of milk.

Some valves suitable for this purpose are described in publications WO2006/008763, WO 2006/008764 and WO 2006/008768, in the name of the sameApplicant.

Known cappuccino makers, whilst being highly appreciated and widelyused, are not without defects.

The coupling between cappuccino makers and known valves may not be verysafe if the apparatus is used distractedly, inaccurately and not inaccordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of present invention is to devise and provide an improvementof the known valve for cappuccino makers that allows the aforementioneddrawbacks with reference to the prior art to be at least partiallyavoided.

In particular, the task of the present invention is to provide a valvesystem that ensures greater safety of use even if it is useddistractedly, inaccurately and not in accordance with the manufacturer'sinstructions.

This purpose and this task are accomplished through a valve inaccordance with claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the valve according to theinvention shall become clearer from the following description ofpreferred example embodiments, given for indicating and not limitingpurposes, with reference to the attached figures, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the side elevation view of a cappuccinomaker;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a section along the line II-II of adetail of the cappuccino maker of FIG. 1 with a known valve in a firstconfiguration;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the section along the line III-III ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a section similar to that of FIG. 2 ina second configuration;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the section along the line V-V of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a section similar to that of FIG. 4 ina third configuration;

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the section along the line VII-VII ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a section similar to that of FIG. 6 ina fourth configuration;

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates the section along the line IX-IX ofFIG. 8;

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a section along the line II-II of adetail of the cappuccino maker of FIG. 1 with a valve according to theinvention in a first configuration;

FIG. 11 schematically illustrates the section along the line XI-XI ofFIG. 10;

FIG. 12 schematically illustrates a section similar to that of FIG. 10in a second configuration;

FIG. 13 schematically illustrates the section along the line XIII-XIIIof FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 schematically illustrates a section similar to that of FIG. 12in a third configuration;

FIG. 15 schematically illustrates the section along the line XV-XV ofFIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter the meanings of the expressions “upper” and “lower” or “high”and “low” or even “over” and “under” or similar, refer to the cappuccinomaker in its normal working position. The normal working position isthat which allows the cappuccino maker to be stably placed on a stove inorder to prepare a cappuccino.

With reference to FIG. 1, a cappuccino maker has been wholly indicatedwith 1. The cappuccino maker 1 comprises, in a per se known way, acollector 2 and a boiler 3. The cappuccino maker also comprises a duct 4that places the boiler 3 in communication with the collector 2 and avalve 5′ that regulates the dispensing of the coffee brew.

The cappuccino maker 1, in order to work correctly and safely so that itis comfortable for the user, must also comprise other elements. Some canbe seen in FIG. 1: a lid 60, a handle 61 and a safety valve 62. Othersare not represented: a funnel, a filter and a gasket. However, suchelements are irrelevant for the purposes of the present invention andtherefore shall not be considered hereafter.

In accordance with the schematic view of the detail of FIG. 2, thecollector 2 comprises side walls 20, a base 21 on which a column 22 isfitted.

The valve 5′ comprises a valve body 50, an auxiliary duct 51 and ashutter 52. The shutter 52 is mobile between a position closing the duct4 and a position opening the duct 4. The movement of the shutter fromthe closed position to the open position is controlled by the pressureinside the boiler 3.

The operation of some possible embodiments of the valve 5′ is describedin detail in publications WO 2006/008763, WO 2006/008764 and WO2006/008768 in the name of the same Applicant.

For the purposes of understanding the present invention, the followingoutline description is sufficient.

When the cappuccino maker 1 is ready for operation, it contains apredetermined amount of water in the boiler 3, a predetermined amount ofcoffee powder in the funnel and a predetermined amount of milk in thecollector 2. The valve 5′ is loaded, i.e. it has the shutter lowered inclosed position so as to close the duct 4.

When heat is supplied to the boiler 3, the pressure inside of itincreases up to the limit value at which the shutter 52 passes to theopen position and the valve 5′ lets the coffee brew run out into themilk. Due to the pressure with which the coffee is injected into themilk, the characteristic froth of the cappuccino is formed.

In FIG. 2 the dispensing path 4 of the coffee is schematised with abroken line. In the following figures the auxiliary duct 51 has beenremoved for greater clarity.

The column 22 and the valve body 50 comprise matching coupling means,respectively indicated with 225 and 522.

In accordance with the embodiments schematised in the attached figures,the coupling means comprise a bayonet coupling. In particular, thecolumn 22 comprises a plurality of tabs 225, whereas the valve body 50comprises a plurality of L-shaped stops 522.

In accordance with FIGS. 2 to 9 different operating configurations ofthe cappuccino maker 1 and of the relative known valve 5′ shall bedescribed hereafter.

In FIG. 2 the dismounted configuration is schematised in which the valve5′ has been removed, for example for washing. In order to replace thevalve 5′ in working configurations, it is necessary to place it over thecolumn 22 and couple it along the direction indicated by the arrow A.

The movement described above takes the valve 5′ into the transitionalconfiguration schematised in FIGS. 4 and 5. The L-shaped stops 522 areplaced between the tabs 225, without however fixing the valve 5′ to thecolumn 22. In particular, the valve 5′ is free to lift along the axis ofthe column 22. In order to couple the valve 5′ with the column 22 it isnecessary to rotate it in the direction indicated by the arrow B.

The movement described above takes the valve 5′ into the openconfiguration schematised in FIGS. 6 and 7. The L-shaped stops 522 lockonto the tabs 225, fixing the valve 5′ to the column 22. In particular,the valve 5′ is fixed along the axis of the column 22. In order to loadthe valve 5′ it is necessary to lower the shutter 52 along the directionindicated by the arrow C, to the closed position.

The movement described above takes the valve 5′ into the loadedconfiguration schematised in FIG. 8.

The valve 5′ is fixed to the column 22 and closes the duct 4 allowingthe formation of pressure inside the boiler 3.

During the operation of the cappuccino maker 1, the pressure of thesteam in the boiler 3 lifts the shutter 52 and takes the valve 5′ backfrom the loaded configuration of FIG. 8 to the open configuration ofFIG. 6. In this way the pressurised coffee flows into the milk producingthe characteristic froth of the cappuccino.

From the description shown above of the operation of the known valve 5′,the man skilled in the art shall understand how careless use of thecappuccino maker can be not entirely safe.

Indeed, in the transitory configuration of FIG. 4 it is however possibleto load the valve 5′ even if it is not correctly fixed to the column 22.In this way it is thus possible to close the duct 4 and allow theformation of pressure inside the boiler 3.

In such a condition, once a predetermined pressure level has beenachieved in the boiler 3, instead of the shutter 52 lifting in acontrolled manner, the entire valve 5′ could lift in an uncontrolledmanner.

Similarly, from the loaded configuration of FIG. 8 it is possible torotate the valve body 50 in the opposite direction to the arrow B. Inthis way the decoupling of the bayonet coupling is obtained,irrespective of the residual pressure level present inside the boiler 3.

If, for whatever reason, the residual pressure present inside the boiler3 is greater than the external pressure, the decoupling of the bayonetcoupling can determine the uncontrolled lifting of the valve 5′ and/orthe escape of steam from the column 22.

The valve 5 in accordance with the present invention proposes to preventthe possible circumstances outlined above.

The valve 5 in accordance with the invention comprises:

-   -   a valve body 50;    -   coupling means 522 suitable for fixing the valve 5 to the        coupling means 225 of a column 22 of a cappuccino maker 1;    -   a shutter 52 mobile between an open position and a closed        position; and    -   a basket 55 suitable for cooperating with the coupling means 225        of the column 22 and with the shutter 52.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the basket 55 comprises aflange 550 from which project feet 551. The basket 55 is free to slidealong the valve body 50. Moreover, the basket 55 is fixed so that therecannot be any relative rotation with respect to the valve body 50.

With reference to FIGS. 10, 12 and 14, the operation of the valve 5according to the invention shall be described hereafter. In suchfigures, the valve body has been shown transparent for the sake ofgreater clarity.

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates the transitional configuration of thevalve 5, similar to the one represented in FIG. 4 for the known valve5′. The L-shaped stops 522 are arranged between the tabs 225, withouthowever fixing the valve 5 to the column 22. In such a transitionalconfiguration the feet 551 of the basket 55 rest upon the tabs 225 ofthe column 22, whereas the flange 550 remains in contact with the mobileshutter 52. In other words, the basket 55 imposes a minimum distancebetween the mobile shutter 52 and the tabs 225 of the column 22.

The rotation of the valve body 50 in direction B fixes the valve 5 tothe column 22 and takes it into the open configuration schematised inFIGS. 12 and 13. The L-shaped stops 522 lock onto the tabs 225, fixingthe valve 5 to the column 22. Moreover, when there is no longer contactbetween the feet 551 of the basket 55 and the tabs 225, the basket isfree to descend into the position clearly visible in FIG. 12. In such aconfiguration, the feet 551 insert into the spaces left free between theL-shaped stops 522 and the tabs 225 (see FIG. 13, if necessary comparingit with FIG. 7 for greater clarity).

By pressing the shutter 52 in the direction of arrow C, the valve 5 istaken into the loaded configuration schematised in FIG. 14. The valve 5is fixed to the column 22 and closes the duct 4 allowing the formationof pressure inside the boiler 3.

The operation of the valve 5 according to the invention is similar tothat described above with reference to the known valve 5′. The pressurein the boiler 3 takes the shutter 52 from the closed position to theopen position; in other words it takes the valve 5 from the loadedconfiguration of FIG. 14 to the open configuration of FIG. 12. In thisway the pressurised coffee flows into the milk producing thecharacteristic froth of a cappuccino.

From everything that has been described above, it shall be clear to theman skilled in the art how the basket 55 is suitable for placing themobility of the shutter 52 in relation with the position of the couplingmeans 522 of the valve 5 with respect to the coupling means 225 of thecolumn 22.

At the same time, the basket 55 is suitable for placing the mobility ofthe coupling means 522 of the valve 5 with respect to the coupling means225 of the column 22 in relation with the position of the shutter 52.

In particular, in the transitional configuration of FIG. 10 it isimpossible to lower the shutter 52 and load the valve 5 since it is notcorrectly fixed to the column 22. The basket 55, going between the tabs225 and the shutter 52, prevents the latter from being able to be movedinto closed position.

In this way it is therefore impossible for pressure to form inside theboiler 3 with the valve 5 not correctly fixed. This avoids reaching apressure level in the boiler 3 being reached that can lift the valve 5in an uncontrolled manner.

Similarly, from the loaded configuration of FIG. 14 it is impossible torotate the valve body 50 in the opposite direction to the arrow B so asto detach the valve 5 from the column 22. The feet 551 of the basket,going between the tabs 225 and the L-shaped stops 522, prevent thedecoupling of the bayonet coupling. The decoupling can only occur afterhaving lifted the basket 55 and with it the shutter 52, thus opening theduct 4.

If, for whatever reason, the residual pressure present inside the boiler3 is greater than the external pressure, the lifting of the shutter 52determines the venting of the pressure through the auxiliary duct 51before the decoupling of the bayonet coupling.

From what has been described above, it shall be clear to the man skilledin the art how the cappuccino maker 1 equipped with the valve 5according to the invention does not suffer from the drawbacks troubleknown cappuccino makers.

A man skilled in the art can make modifications and adaptations to theembodiments of the valve and of the cappuccino maker described above andcan replace elements with functionally equivalent elements, in order tosatisfy contingent requirements, without departing from the scope of thefollowing claims.

1-11. (canceled)
 12. Valve for a home cappuccino maker of the typecomprising a boiler and a collector having a column, said valvecomprising: a valve body; coupling means suitable for fixing the valveto coupling means of said column; a shutter mobile between a closedposition and an open position of a duct; and a basket suitable forcooperating with the coupling means of the column and with the shutter.13. Valve according to claim 12, in which said basket is suitable forplacing the mobility of the shutter in relation with the position of thecoupling means of the valve with respect to the coupling means of thecolumn.
 14. Valve according to claim 12, in which said basket issuitable for placing the mobility of the coupling means of the valvewith respect to the coupling means of the column in relation with theposition of the shutter.
 15. Valve according to claim 12, in which saidbasket is free to slide along the valve body and is fixed so that therecan be no rotation of the basket with respect to the valve body. 16.Valve according to claim 12, in which said basket comprises a flangefrom which project feet.
 17. Valve according to claim 16, in which saidflange is suitable for resting upon said shutter.
 18. Valve according toclaim 12, in which the coupling means of the valve comprise L-shapedstops.
 19. Valve according to claim 12, in which the coupling means ofthe column comprise tabs.
 20. Valve according to claim 19, in which saidfeet are suitable for resting upon said tabs of said column so as toprevent the mobility of said shutter.
 21. Valve according to claim 19,in which said feet are suitable for going between the L-shaped stops ofthe valve and the tabs of the column so as to prevent their relativemobility.
 22. Cappuccino maker comprising a valve according to claim 12.